Ole Miss is still alive, but the performance was not College Football Playoff worthy

Ole Miss won back-to-back Egg Bowls, keeping the Golden Egg in Oxford for another 12 months. During the first three quarters, it was questionable if the Rebels would win the game, but a solid fourth quarter gave them a 12-point win.

The 26-14 victory keeps Ole Miss in the playoff hunt, but if chaos does unfold on Saturday, the performance against Mississippi State may not help them break the top 12.

Offense stutters as Ole Miss' defense comes to the rescue again

Three turnovers from the Bulldogs, two of which were interceptions, helped Ole Miss out of a hole in the 20024 Egg Bowl. The Rebels sleepwalked their way on offense for most of the first half but did take a 17-14 lead into the break.

JJ Pegues's touchdown and Ulysses Bentley IV's explosive 89-yard run, added to a field goal from Caden Davis in the first half extended the lead. Davis could have extended the lead just before the half, but his 54-yard effort drifted wide.

Mississippi State set its defense up with four safeties in the backfield, asking Ole Miss to run the ball, something it has struggled to do in conference play. The Rebels obliged, but their struggles continued, with quarterback Jaxson Dart averaging more yards a carry without Bentley's big touchdown run.

Despite a subpar offense in the first half, Jaxson Dart made program history, surpassing Eli Manning as the program leader in passing yards.

In the second half, it was your typical gritty Egg Bowl game. Both defenses showed up, but the Bulldogs blinked first, giving up a ten-play, 87-yard touchdown drive. An excellent grab from tight end Caden Prieskorn finished it off.

If Ole Miss does miss out on the playoffs, which is likely, it seemed fitting that Ulysses Bentley IV and Caden Prieskorn both scored touchdowns. Fans have asked questions all season about their whereabouts in the Rebels offense. Maybe it was Lane Kiffin trolling, but it made Rebels fans even angrier.

If it's a bowl game for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels, expect to see a different team entering the field. Austin Simmons and others head the new future of Ole Miss.